Flash ignition plug for gas engines



Jan. 13. 1931. M. J. DIKEMAN FLASH IGNITION PLUG FOR GAS ENGINES Filed Deb.

INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

' Patented J55. 13; 1931 v instead 01" it nly 611* 3 with the ()i'dlnn y spark mp'i-dchieea ute the feel (if m engin when ing from" the small inthesiee" of 61m 7 (hit the engiixe cy'l-ifidef i511 i il 221 1 set-:

6611s of the eng-ifie cylinder;shmltaneoqsly';

mon use.

point 511s fthewzise ih'ezil'is' foir'filling the ping fiimhehtm'bei" with 1;; diieetly from theen'gine ylind'eifehan'i bet on tlieconipreissi'onfirfiikebf the engine, and tq automatically discharge unburned g'fise's lefb' in the plug chanlbe'l enemy into 20' erha'ils'tv'zilveisoperiedfl .7 7 7 A further object (if my mvent-itiir 18130 pro- 0fa fprojectiilg. i'od" attached Fig; '3 is a seeticxial viewbf thevplug, taj-l'zen general arrafig'einnt ef the wofking' andtheir' relati' n toeachether;

Fig. 4 seeeoim ewvmken em e line 6f the F 3, -showing the firing diet: and elet'lic' spar g terminal p0111t, and the "cylinder Walls: .Flg; 5 as am firifigdis With 0L niil ltiplicity 03? min point L afn'd the'me a hsi for ihs u'lzituig same from the nawi g I skip-ante I firing disc of difier'ent miifieriitl atmehedto the bottom thi'edfr Fig.- "7 is" an ee-me fbrlii for dosin the. 1

lower en'c I willenqwdeecribeinprefillly the det'ziilejd CODSUuCt iQn of my' flashplug, referring fo' the di-awl'n sand the In'afks thereon;

general, iny device cemp'rises hollow plug easing having a cylindrical fii'i'zi'g chamend; thereof; except jefqrfsnmll" pit h'oles thfoug'h the end chambe wallsyand isjpi'o vi'd'eqlwitii external th eads; forrset wiri'g the clbeedfeind into aplug o'peninigef an engine" cylmder'head, so 'astdfpifojec-flt'he smell end V insulated ifie r nbei are mounte'cl with 111' the plug fiil fig chamber, having nizins 01 connectingsame' into an electric cituifi,

. foi igfiibih'g thegas Within the plug chamber and aiising fiamestq shoctfrom the bottom; Y p'bjrt hdle 'o'f the'p'l'ug fol-igniting the engine. 7

gi'nej exhaust-the pressure Withi11khe*phi1g chambei is 2x136 lbwe'rd; and the coil spring fmcesft'he, piston ro the bott m-of the 9.11 burned gas'e's, 1efiVihg the plug'chamber'ready for a neii filling' df fresh 'gfison' the com chamber, and" discharges therefrdi'n f The plug" casing "j1 -is of metal suit- I able for withstanding heat, without undue expansion, and as 'a matter of convenience, 1s formed with an external hexagon collar 2+ near the bottom end of the casing as a means for screwingthe plug into a cylinder-head of an engine. Below. the collar 2 and adjacent thereto is, formeda threaded section 3 ing ordinarily provided therein for an engine spark plug now commonly used in most types of gas engines.

The plug casing 1 is formed with a true cylindrical chamber -5 through nearly the entirelength thereof, and

- is closed at the bottom end thereof-by the end cap lprojecting from the threaded end section 3-. Smallport holes 6 are formed through the end walls 4', and the threaded section being of sufiicient length to project theend .4. and ports 6-.- just inside the engine cylinderhead wall. :The

small ports 6 may be formed in the end 7 wall, or the side wall, or in both end and Ike side walls as shown in Fig.3, providing small Y communicating passages between theengine lindrical plug, closely fitted to the walls of the chamber 5 forming'as nearly. an air tight joint'therewith' as possible and allow the piston 10 to slide freely therein. The piston 10 is provided with slide rod 11-, projecting therefrom along the axis of the piston, engaging the bearing 8 in the cap 7-, for guiding and holding the piston 10- in a true position within the cylindrical chamber '5. Alsofitted tightly within the top end of the chamber forming an air tight joint with the chamber walls and providing an airtight end joint when engaged with the piston -10 as thepiston is forced to its upper position under the pressure from the engine cylinder, and acting as a valve seat for the piston and forming an air ti' 'ht firin chamber at the lower end of the chamber 5. The thim- 'ble l2 being of a length to positionthe piston at approximately the center of the cylinder when the piston is raised in contact therewith. The purpose of the thimble '12- is to provide a simplified means of forming a shouldered seat for the piston and making an air tight joint therewith and which could likewise be formed by turning a for. engaging and screwing into the englne cyhnder head open- The topend of the metal is tubular piston seat thimble l shouldered seat directly on the cylinder walls of the cylindrical chamber fi in a position as shown in Fig. 1 or" the drawings, when the piston 10 is not under pressure from the engine "cylinder. -.-Th'e. piston -10 is free to slide therein under the action of the coil spring 13 and the pressure from the engine compression. The piston 10 is preferably formed with a sharp lower edge, formed by a narrow end groove intersecting the side piston wall, leaving the lower edge wall sharp, and for the purpose of scraping and cleaning the side walls of the chamber 5 and keeping same free from carbon deposits resulting from combustion of the gases. At the bottom end of the piston ,10 is formed a circular pointed star firing disc 15 the circumference being positioned concentric with the axis of the piston, and or" a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the inclosing cylinder 5-, so the sharp circumferential teeth of the firing disc lie near the cylinder walls but not in contact therewith. The firing disc 15 may be turned directly on'the piston body from the same piece of metal, or a separate disc 1' imay be attached thereto as shown in Fig. 6, should it be desirable to make the firing disc of a different material. The operation is the same in'either case. Through the'wall of the plug'casing l positioned directly opposite the edge of the firing disc 15- when the piston 10 is resting in its upper position is mounted an electric spark terminal pin 17.-, positioned therein so that the inner end of the pin lies near the sharp circumferential points of the firing disc -15-, but not in contact therewith or projecting beyond the chamber walls .5 to interfere with the movement of the piston 10.

.The terminal pin -17 is thoroughly insulated fromthe plug casing =1 by the insulatorplug .-18 tightly fitted and sealed in the casing walls. The outer end of the 7 terminal pin -17 is provided with means forattaching the end of an electric circuit wire 22- thereto for placing the terminal pin and firing disc '15' in an electric circuit with any battery. The piston plug and attached firing disc being grounded with-the engine -frame as is usually the case, com- .pletesanelectric circuit, andwhich will cause a spark to'pass' between the inner end of the terminal pin 17 and the point nearest the pin end of the'firing disc '15, when the electric circuit is closed through the engine commutator or distributing head as the englne piston reaches the upper position of the compression stroke, and which compresing'the piston '"10- to itsfiringposition at the top of the 'chambeig: seating I against the r son is alshthereby communicated to the plug chamber -'s5e ,tlirough the smaliports in thelower end of the plug'casingj and'l-f'or'c end of the :t-hiin'ble "-12 and tor-riding an airtight chamber; "As; th-ef'1piston :r1011 is passed between theter ninal pin 17' and firingdisc ,"ig-nitingthe gas t hich has been forced in the plug chamber bythe compression of the engine cyllnder,

and causing flamestoi einit from" the small p'ortsholes 6 in the'botto'm end' of the'plug,

i andshoot throughout thecngine cylindenfuel gas chamber, igniting the entire mass'gsimul;

taneou'sly, instead of at only one-pi jint as is the case-With the ordinary spark flplug now;

in common use for this purpose. Upon the lowering-of the engine cylinder pressuregat the exhaust portlori of the engine stroke, the

pressure in the plug 'c 'l ian'ib'er is likewise 1"e-' Y z r i v. w V leased, and the coll sprmg -1 5- their forces the piston 1'O to thebottoni of the cylindrical'chamber -5 *and forces all bii'rned r gases out 'ofthe pliig chamber,- and ready for re-filling the cli'ai'i'iber With airesh charge or; gas from the enginecylin'der at the compiessionstifokeof the engine.

Fig. 4, illustratesaterminal pin 1L0 r p electric spark therebetween, 111 casesome Withflbut a single sparking pointftherefon,

while Fi l 5; illustratesa terminal pin +17;-

having a multiplicity of p'oints on the inner end of the pin, all arranged concentric with th fi" he 15- the teeth bein Ora 6 H112 g project theendfof-th'eplug and oportholes smaller pitch thanthose of the firing disc, and affording range fOl tl1'8p2tSS1I l g of an of the adjacent discpointsbecome inoperative; The piston '-1O* may he turned within .thecyli-nder as desir'echfor bringing new disc firing points opposite the point of the terminal pin-17 I An. alternate fo'iiibf-rhYjalu; is shown the Fig. 7, the plug being exactly the same as shown and described"heretofore, except the bottom end -4- is omitted as cut on the line CC in Fig; 3,-le aving the lower end of the plugchamber -'5 op'en, andthe-n 2 7 construction of myflas'h p'lugas herein shown; 7 V and de scrihed,'as it Is evident there are nu-e screwing the plug'casin'g '1-' intoa special r head socket 49- Which has formed therein V V V p lng'the Lfuel gas nt-he cyhnderxof agas en-J.

gine, by a; flash flame, comprising a tubular special ports -211 through its closing end 20,. The socket I-'19' is screwed intothe engine cylinder head inthesaine manner as the original plug, operatingin the samernaiiner, but less :efiicientias there is small amount o'f dead gas which the piston .10- cannot'ex'pel therefrom.

- I do not Wish to be confined to the exact merous mechanical designs 7 for accomplish rcuit.

p sit on. a

hi the aboiie results; ad therefore'claim all flash ignition plugs that are substantially a.

sustitutionof parts herein shown. f

Having fully described my; flash ignition plug, What I Ola-ill): and desiretovsecure by Letter'sPatent iszr 1 A flash ignitiomplu'g' adapted for ignit- 111g thevfueli gas ofaflgas engine; by a flash flame, comprising a hollow metal' plug casing,

having a truefoylindrical chamber formed thereiniclosed at the bottbm end of said plug 7 except for small port holes formed through the end alls, external threads formed near the lowerendofi said'plug-casing, above the '80 end port -holes vand:positionedto project the plug end and ports just inside the Wall of an engine-cylinder 'lieadg-'when said plug" is s'crewed thei ein; ahslidable piston mounted inside. said-cylindrical;chamberymeans attachedto'said sliding vpiston to force same to lower end of the chamber'near the end port :holes,;electricspark-points mounted Within said cylindrical chamber for causing a spark -tl'1erei 1r:when Z'the piston is in its upper posltlon' 1n Bald chamber; v and means .for conjnectingrjsald sparkjpolnts 1n anelectnc c1r- J 2. A flash ignition p adapted 014 i l nitingrthefuel gas-in thezcylinder of a gas en- 'gine, by a flash flame, comprising 'a-uhellow metal plug: casing having r'a tr'ue cylindrical chamber formedtherein extendingnearly the entirelen-gthrof'athe plugrca sing; said'chanhber b,ei11g closed at the-bottom end of the plug except for small port holes ;formed through the end Walls; external threads formedon the. outer walloftherplug casing, :above and adjacent to the; end portsholes, positioned .to

just inside ofthe Wall of an engine-cylinder head'whfeii, said: plug, casingis screwed therein;-a movableipistonofitted Within said cylind-rlcal chamber, designedto recede from the port end ofthc plug when thesaid'piston is 'i subjected to; air pressure entering through the small port holes; spr ng means attached plug chamber'tocausean electric spark there 3.- flashgignition plugladapt'ed, forigilitmetal plug CBJSlIlgyC-IOSGd at thebottom end in Whenthe pistonhas receded to its upper exceptforsinall port holes through the end i [casing wallsgsaid tubular casingbeing formed A With a true; cylindrical :Wall Jinner chamber, and having external threads .formed' on the bottomzendthere'of positionedpto projectthe plug end. iandiup'o rtsj irst. inside the Wall o1 "an engine cylinder head i when the "plug casin'gnis s'crewed there-ins a movable piston, fitted within ,said cylindrical chamber and tree to slide therein, an end cap attached to, the upper open .end of the plug casing, spring means mounted, within said, cylinder above the said piston" for engaging and forcing the piston tothe botopposite the firing point on the bottom of the piston when'the pistonis :atthe upper position in said cylinder and means for con;

vnecting the points in an electric circuit.

A flash. ignition plug adapted for 1gn1ting the fuel gas ofa gas engine, by a'fiash flame, comprising a hollowmetal plug casing having a' true cylindrical chamber formed therein extenoing nearly the entire length thereof and closed at the'lower end of said casing except for small port holesthrough the end casing walls, external threads'formed on the outerwall of said plug casing, above and adjacent to the small ports, so positionedas to' project the .closed end and small ports "inside the wall or an engine cylinder when 'the plug casing is screwed therein, a metal end cap fitted and attached to the top end of the casing,'said cap having air ports formed therein, a sliding piston mounted within the cylindrical chamber free to slide: to the bottom port end of saidchamber, a seating piston thimble mounted aboveithe piston to form an air tight joint therewith when said piston is at its upper part of the stroke, a

compression coil spring placed" above the piston so as to force Stud plston to the lower port end of said cylinder, a fir ng dlsc formed on the bottom of saidpiston, an electric ter-V ininal pin mounted in the casing Wall, tho'r oughly insulatedtherefrom and positioned to lie opposite'the edge of the piston firing disc when saidpisto'n is resting in its-upper position, and means for connecting said terminal pin to an electric wire. f a

l -5. A flash 'gnit-ionplug adapted'forignib ing the fuel gas in thecylinder of a gas engine, by a flash -fiaine,'compris1ng ametal plug casing having a true cylindrical chanr' ber formed lengthwise therein, said chamber being closed at the lower endthereof except for small port holes through the end walls of the casing, means forattaching said cas ing in a plug hole of an engine cylinder-head, a true cylindrical piston with'slide attached,

"closely fitting said cylinder walls installed within said cylinder, said piston free to slide therein and is provided with a sharp lower edge for scraping thecylinde'r walls clean, a tubular piston thimble fitted in the top end of the casing cylinder chamber, above the piston, positioned to engage said piston at inner end lies near and directly opposite the firing points on the bottom of the piston when the piston is in its upper position within said cylinder, andineans for connecting an electric wire to the outer end of said terminal. Vi v 6. A flash ignition plug adaptedltorignitj ing the'fnel gas in the cylinder of a gas engine comprising a hollow metal plr having a true cylindrical chamber lengthwise therein, 7 said chamber being closed at thebottoin end of saidcasing 02rcept for small ports through the cnd casing walls, exterior threads formed on the lower end of said casing, above and adjacent to the small. ports, so positioned as to project the small p orts jnst inside the wall of an engine cylinder when the plug casing is screwed therein, an end cap fitted and attachcdto the upper open end of said casing and prof led with a central slide bearing therein, a-c dricalgpistoh truly fitted to the walls 0' the cylindrical chamber butft'reet'o slide thud in, said piston havin a projectingslide extending from the top side thereof and engaging and sliding within the central cap hearing, a, tubular piston thimble tightly fitted into the top end of the cylindrical chamber. above thepistonandipositioned to cng 0 the piston at about its central position \l'll-llin, the cylinder chamber and form a tight and joint with said piston, an.compressimi i-oii springmounted on saidic'entral slide and engagingthe piston and cap for torci said piston to the bottom: of the chamberair ports arranged inthetopend of the cvlin er 7 above the piston,;-sai dpiston being iorr with a sharp lower perimeter edge and jecti-ng firing-disc beneath the sharp perimeter edge, an electric terminalpin fixedly mounted in thesidewali ctthe C2ISlI1,Q"tU'l(l in sulated'therefrom'by a sealed salating plug and ,-so positionedin the; casing wall as to bring the inner pin point directly opposite the edge of the firing disc whenthe piston is raised against theengaging piston thimble, and means for attaching an electrie'wire to the outer. end of said terminal pin. 7 7. A flash ignitionplugadapted forigniting the fuel within the cylinder of gas engine, by a flash flame, comprising a tubular did the top of said piston to forceit to the bottom of the tubularchamber, two electric 'spark'points thoroughly insulated from each other inounted'inside the'cylinder under the pistonwhen in its upper-position, and means forpassing an electric spark 'be'tWeensaid V spark point.

8. 1A flash ignition plugadapted for igniting the fuel gas in the cylinder of a gas engineybya flash flame, Comprising ainetal 1 plug casing having a cylindricalchamber formed. lengthwise therein, said chamberbeinn-closed at the lower end except for small port holes through the closing end Walls, a

' V pistonfitted within said cylindrical chainher and vfree to slide therein, a piston seat J projecting from the cylinder Walls. for engaging thepiston at about its central posia tion in-thecyl1nder and making same 311 l tight, means attached to the p ston-forford" ingcsaine to the bottom of the cylinder casing, a'firing disc attachedito the bottom of the piston and'projecting therefrom, an elec tric terminalpin mounted through the casing Walls opposite said-firing disc when the'piston isin' its upper positionin said cylinder, i: said terminal'pin being fully insulated from all metal parts adjacent thereto.

In Witness whereof I sign these specificas tions.

'7 MYR N Ji'mKEMA 

